ds; "they are firing."

"Yes, mother; and so will we," cried the lad, excitedly.

"You--you will not expose yourself rashly," she whispered; "you will
take care?"

"I'm going to try not to do anything foolish, mother," he said; "but I
must be with the men."

She clung to him wildly, and her lips trembled as she tried to speak;
but no words came, and Roy bent forward, kissed her, and tried to
withdraw his hands, but they were too tightly held.

_Boom_! came another report following closely upon a peculiar whizzing
sound, apparently over the open window.

"Another gun from the enemy, and we're doing nothing," said Roy,
impatiently. "Mother, don't stop me; they will think I'm afraid. I
must be with the men."

Lady Royland drew a deep breath, and her face became fixed and firm once
more, though the pallor seemed intensified.

"Yes," she said, quickly, as she threw her arms about her son for a
brief embrace; "you must be with your men, Roy. Go, and remember my
prayers are with you always. Good-bye!"

"Just for a while," he cried. "You shall soon have news of how we are
going on."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

GOING UNDER FIRE.

Roy ran out of the room, leaving the old housekeeper, who was waiting
outside, to close the door, and dashed down the few stairs and out into
the court-yard, where the greater part of their little force was drawn
up on either side of the gate-way, looking very serious and troubled;
but as soon as he appeared they burst into a cheer, to which Roy
answered by waving his hand.

"The game has begun," he cried.

"Yes, sir," said one of the troopers, who with Farmer Raynes was in
command of the men; "first shot struck the tower full, and splintered
down some stone. Better mind how you cross the gate-way."

"Yes," said Roy, quickly; "I will." And he ran across to the door-way
at the foot of the big spiral, reaching it just as a shot came whizzing
overhead, and a heavy report followed.

"Third, and not one from us," muttered Roy, as he hurried up the
stairway to reach the platform at the top, and found Ben Martlet and the
troop-corporal from his father's regiment, each busy with one of the
guns, arranging wedges under the breeches, and assisted by the men told
off to work each piece, while two more now came to the turret door-way,
bearing fresh charges ready when wanted.

Ben looked up and smiled grimly as Roy appeared, and the boy cried,
excitedly--

"Three shots from them, and yo